Gonzalez's work ethic results in All Area's top honor

Rossview's Adrian Gonzalez put in the time it took to become one of the best wrestlers in the city of Clarksville.

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Rossview's Adrian Gonzalez won 50 dual matches this season, including 43 by pin. He was named The Leaf-Chronicle All Area Boys Wrestler of the Year.(Photo11: George Robinson/The Leaf-Chronicle)Buy Photo

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Adrian Gonzalez is quick to admit that he doesn't consider himself the best wrestler in the city of Clarksville. But he's content knowing few wrestlers have been able to beat him.

The Rossview High senior finished the dual season ranked in the top five in the state at 152 pounds and had a 50-5 dual record. He pinned 43 of those opponents while taking Region 7-AAA championship.

At state, Gonzalez finished fifth overall, earning a medal and ending his wrestling career at Rossview with a 199-38 dual record. He's a three-time state qualifier and a two-time state medalist, and he attributes it all to the sheer amount of time and work he has put into his craft.

Gonzalez was named The Leaf-Chronicle All Area Boys Wrestler of the Year. The award is voted on by the newspaper sports staff while the All Area Wrestling Team is selected by the area's athletics directors.

Q: What is your favorite go-to move?

Gonzalez: I like the high crotch. It's helped me win many, many matches. It's my strongest move and it should be because I put the most work into that move. I've probably done about a thousand of them. It's a neutral move that you get points off of. There's a left and a right high crotch. The right one is the one I get most of the kids I wrestle.

Q: What is your favorite moment of the 2015-16 season?

Gonzalez: Going to state and winning my matches there. I eventually lost, but going to state never gets old. I was always excited about facing the competition there because everyone is good at that level and you get to see just how far you've come. To place at state means something and I've done that the past two years.

Q: What's the most annoying thing about wrestling?

Gonzalez: Practice. I mean, I work hard at practice but it isn't fun. Sometimes I wish I can just learn the move just be looking at it. But instead, I have to practice it a lot. Go figure.

Q: What is your favorite pre-game ritual?

Gonzalez: Usually I listen to motivational speeches. I like to motivate my teammates as well. That usually gets me going before a match, but listening to motivational speeches in my earphones does it.

Q: Who, or which individual, do you consider your biggest rival?

Gonzalez: Anyone I wrestled was a rival. You always want to win so for that moment, it was a rivalry.

Q: What do you like most about your teammates?

Gonzalez: My teammates were a lot of fun this year. I loved being around them because they keep you loose and they were really great at keeping each other motivated. I think this team really cared about each other and that showed.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at 931-245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.